Radium Girls

About the Show

In 1926, radium was a miracle cure, Madame Curie an international celebrity, and luminous watches the latest rage—until the girls who painted them began to fall ill with a mysterious disease. Inspired by a true story, Radium Girlstraces the efforts of Grace Fryer, a dial painter, as she fights for her day in court. Her chief adversary is her former employer, Arthur Roeder, an idealistic man who cannot bring himself to believe that the same element that shrinks tumors could have anything to do with the terrifying rash of illnesses among his employees. As the case goes on, however, Grace finds herself battling not just with the U.S. Radium Corporation, but with her own family and friends, who fear that her campaign for justice will backfire. Written with warmth and humor, Radium Girls is a fast-moving, highly theatrical ensemble piece for 9 to 10 actors, who play more than 30 parts—friends, co-workers, lovers, relatives, attorneys, scientists, consumer advocates, and myriad interested bystanders. Called a "powerful" and "engrossing" drama by critics, Radium Girls offers a wry, unflinching look at the peculiarly American obsessions with health, wealth, and the commercialization of science.

"Radium Girls is a powerful, moving drama made even more powerful by the fact that it is a true story. Many current laws regarding workplace safety, corporate liability, and statutes of limitations are a direct result of the these women's fight against the radium corporations in the 1920's and 1930's. While Radium Girls is the NJ story, the exact same events took place on Ottawa, IL a few years later, only an hour from the theatre. In preparation for this production, we traveled to Ottawa to see an exhibit at the LaSalle County Historical Society and a memorial to the women, as well as the grave of Catherine Donohue, who led the fight. It was a humbling and powerful experience which brought home the reality of the story." Director Greg Kolack said. A special thank you to Erin Randolph with The LaSalle County Historical Museum in Utica, IL for arranging this special visit.

Last summer a group of us ladies from wOODSMOKE RANCH CAMP GROUND did a tour in Ottawa and went to the museum. It was the first time I had ever hear of the Radium Girls
when I got home I ordered the book from Amazon and couldn't put it down. The book is now being passed around our group and we are interested in see the play. It just shows what big business will do to protect their business and money.